Stockport is among 22 new areas in the North West to get licences for small-scale radio multiplex services.
Up until now there has just been a single commercial and community radio licence available for broadcast across the area on FM.
The new SSDAB (small scale DAB) platform will open access to not just established Radio stations but online radio stations looking to broaden their reach.
“We have been broadcasting on FM for 21 years this month and things have really changed since we started,” explained Colin Owen board member of Wythenshawe FM.
“Digital Radio is clearly the future, especially as most of the cars on the road have now made the switch. We are really excited to be working with our community radio colleagues on this project.”
Wythenshawe FM is part of the Digital Radio Stockport consortium hoping to run the new platform. Also involved are Stockport’s Strawberry radio, All FM, Pie Radio and Canalside Radio.
The other regions are:
- Blackburn, Burnley & Darwen
- Blackpool
- Bolton & Bury
- Cheshire (East)
- Cheshire (Mid)
- Chester & Ellesmere Port
- Clitheroe
- Congleton & Leek
- Crewe, Nantwich & Whitchurch
- Glossop & Buxton
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Oldham & Rochdale
- Preston
- Rhyl, Ruthin & Mold
- Southport
- Stockport
- Stoke & Newcastle-under-Lyme
- Warrington, Widnes & Runcorn
- Wigan
- Wirral
- Wrexham
This is Round Two of Ofcom’s licensing, with Round Three including:
- Darlington & Bishop Auckland
- East Hull
- Middlesbrough & Redcar
- West Hull
- Wetherby & Harrogate
- York
- Yorkshire Coast
Each multiplex can provide around 10 radio stations.
